Bookbinding



Oct. 14, 1941. R. A. WILLIAMS BooxBINDING Filed Nov. 16,1957

'atented ct. 14, 1941 mureny TES PATENT' OFFICE BOOKBINDING Robert Alonzo Williams, Chicag0,'lll. Application November 16, 1937, Serial No. 174,871

Claims. (Cl. 281-26) This invention pertains to the art of edition bookbinding and has as one of its important objects the provision of an improved` method and means for binding books which not only effects great manufacturing economies by the elimination of such skilled and expensive operations as sewing, rounding and backing, and casing-in and which, moreover, produces a rugged binding possessed of extensive decorative possibilities.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide a method of binding books in edition style which eliminates the sewing of signatures, rounding and backing of the gathered book form, and all gluing operations heretofore performed on the gathered signatures or in securing the casing or covers to the book form.

Another and more particular object of the invention is the provision of a method of binding books in edition style wherein the signatures are simply gathered in book form, without sewing'or gluing, are slotted along their binding edge, and are thereafter provided with a backbone in the form of a plastic channel having integral body portions keyed in the slots, the channel being cast onto the binding edge of the signatures by forcing the plastic in a fluent state into a die fitted onto the binding edge.

Still another object is the provision lof a book or like folio -device inwhich a plurality of leaves are -gathered in book form and provided with a plurality of mortise-like slots or grooves along the binding edge with a backbone of mouldable material cast onto the binding edge and having integral portions forced into and keyed in the slots, the slots being formed to prevent withdrawal of the backbone portions therein after the mouldable material has set or hardened.

Yet another object is the provision of a book in which a stack of -gathered sheets or leaves are provided along one binding edge with oppositely inclined diagonal outs `or slots and thereafter there is moulded around the binding edge a backbone with the moulding material extending into the diagonal slots and providing, when set or hard, keys locking the sheets against withdrawal from the backbone.

A still further object is the provision of a book bound in edition style by gathering the signatures or leaves in book form, cutting keying slots or formations in one binding edge, `clamping the book form in a die whichts over the binding edge and partly over the adjoining side portions, and introdueinga fluid or plastic material into the mold in such manner that it flows or enters the keying slots to harden integrally with the backbone shell, Y the keying slots and integral backbone portions therein being shaped or pitched or both so as to lock the leaves against separation from the backbone.

Other objects and novel aspects of the yinvention reside in the steps and practice of the method of binding, together with the resulting product, hereinafter described and claimed in View of the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a book bound in edition style in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a median vertical section along lines 2-2 through the book of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross `section through the binding edge as seen along lines 3 3 ofFig.2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section through a mold with the gathered and slotted signatures in place preparatory to injecting the plastic to form the backbone and keys;

Fig. 5 is a reduced vertical cross section through a modified form of binding employing oppositely slanting integral key formations;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Figs. 2 and 5 and showing another modification of the keying formations, while I Fig. -7 is a fragmentary vertical cross section through the form of backbone and keying formation shown in Fig. 6 .and taken along lines 'l-l thereof.

It is to be understood that `the invention is not restricted to the specific details of structure or method hereinafter described for purposes of illustration, and that the appended claims are to be liberally construed in proportion to the advance in the art of bookbinding explicitly or implicitly disclosed in the present specification and drawing.

Referring to Fig. 1 or 4, I assemble a stack of leaves either in separate sheets or in folded signatures l0 and gather theV same in the basic book form or outline and thereafter inwardly flared or keyed slots or mortises vI I (Fig. 2) are punched into the binding edge of the signatures Vor form, unless the book is of too thick proportion to bef stamped or punched in book form, in which case the individual sheets or groups of sheets or the individual signatures are stamped preliminary to the gathering operation. y

Having prepared the leaves in book form, a casing comprising a pair of cover boards I2 covered over with a suitable casing cloth I3 providing a flexible intervening hinge portion I4, is placed over the signatures with the hinge portion I4 overlying the binding edge I5, the hinge portion I4 being provided at some stage of the operl.

ation with slots or openings IS registering with the key slots I I in the sheets. It may be observed that the rear edge portions I'I of the cover boards are beveled (at a point adjacent the juncture of the covers with the sidewall portions I8 of the channel-like backbone shell I9) so that the covers may freely turn back into open position over the edge of the sidewalls I8.

When the casing or hinged covers are placed on the binding edge l of the gathered signatures or sheets as aforesaid, the assembly is placed in a mold or die structure 2D (Fig. 4) with the major part of the cased book securely clamped between a pair of blocks 2|, or other suitable means, and with the binding edge portion I5 disposed in, and wedged between the upper edges 22 of, an elongated channel 23 in the die. The die or mold 20 may be made in a Variety of forms, depending upon the production methods employed, and in the present illustration, the dieis made in two sections separable laterally at a point between its longitudinal ends (not shown) so that the book form or signatures may be slid into the mold channel endwise (or the two halves slid onto the binding edge toward each other).

After the cased-in form is secured in the mold, a moulding composition in the form of a fluid, plastic or gel, is forced into the mold cavity 23 by means such as the injector piston 2lii in an injecting cylinder 25 through an orifice 25 communicating with the cavity 23, the cylinder 25 preferably being threaded into the die block 26 at one side of the lateral opening line (not illustrated), and there being a plurality of injectors for the larger size books.

The moulding material may 'be any one of a variety of commonly known compositions including aldehydes and phenols familiarly grouped as Bakelite compositions including various synthetic resins. As one specific example of this general class of moulding composition, formaldehyde and phenol to produce a gel which injector by a feed pipe 2l and thereafter forced by the piston 25 through the orifice 26 (enlarged for this type of composition), and when the mold cavity is filled, including the key slots 1I in the book, a moderate heat isapplied to the die 2D to transform the gel into a solid which will be both insoluble and non-combustible. y y

Another class of moulding materials `suitable for this method of bookbinding includes various cellulose nitrate compositions o f the type of Celluloid or pyralin, one specific example of which is the product of mixing cellulose nitrate with naphthaline to produce a gel which may be gently warmed and forced by the injector 24-25 into the mold cavity 23 and thereafter allowed to set. This type of moulding material is less desirable than the above-mentioned synthetic resins because the nitrocellulose compositions are generally inflammable Vand frequently explosive, although they may be treated to render these dangers practically inconsiderable.

Still another class of moulding compositions which may be used in this method are the cellulose acetates, that is, cellulose acetate mixed with some form of plasticizerto provide -a powder which is heated in, or before it reaches, the injector 24--25 so that it will flow into the mold cavities, whereupon it is allowed to set or harden. There are a variety of 'these latter compositions available commercially and Well known in the may be mixed in molecular proportionsis introduced into the moulding arts, any one of which may be chosen to meet particular production requirements. However, an example of this type of moulding substance is cellulose acetate mixed with acetone, benzol and alcohol and a suitable coloring substance.

When the moulding composition flows into the keying slots I I and hardens, there are formed keying or locking members such as the tenions Il' of Fig. 2, the shape and disposition of which may be varied considerably.

For example, a very effective keying formation is that shown in the modification of Fig. 5, wherein the signatures or sheets 3U are punched to provide oppositely inclined, obliquely pitched key slots 3l and 32 into which the plastic or moulding composition flows to form, when hardened, oppositely inclined locking tabs or keys 3l' and 32 respectively. The number of these oppositely pitched keys depends upon the size and weight of the book. In this arrangement, it may be observed that the signatures are cased-in in the same fashion as in the 'device of Figs. Zand 3, that is, the cover boards are joined by a` fabric hinge portion 33 which is moulded in between the bottom of the backbone channel or shell -34 and the binding edge of the sheets.

An optional provision in any of the forms of binding, are `opposite endwise keys 35 moulded into lateral end cuts orY slots 36 cut close to the binding edge at the longitudinal lends thereof.

In Fig. 6, the signatures or sheets 3'I` are punched to provide a series of spaced holes -38 into which the moulding composition flows to provide crosswise stringers or keys 35| integral with the sidewalls 4D of the backbone shell 4I (Fig. 7). As in the other forms, it will be `observed that the cover hinge 42 v'is moulded in between the bottom fof the backbone `lll and the binding 'edge of the sheets.

Having thus illustrated my invention by describing in specific detail a preferred means and method for carrying the same into effect, it will no doubt occur to those skilled in theart that Various modifications and rear-rangements may be made in both the method and the means of the disclosure whereby the several broad objects of the invention may be equivalently achieved, all without departing from the spirit and -s'cope of the invention, which, in its broadest aspect, contributes to 'the `art a method of backing a book and binding the leaves thereof yto the backing in a single operation by lmoulding or otherwise forming or fitting a plastic or fluid substance onto the slotted binding edge `of the book form, the substance thereafter setting `or being rigidied to provide integral backbone and binding or keying formations.

The appended claims, thereforaare'to be liberally interpreted to include all equivalents in means and method 'for realizing the broad object of the invention proportionate to and in -consonance with the advance inthe art represented bythe teachings and disclosure herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. A book including leaves having a substantially rigid backbone of mculdable material cast onto the binding margin thereof, said "backbone having integral portions Aeach 'interlocked yin cutout portions formed in the binding margin of said leaves.

2. The method of bindingbooks which comprises the gathering of leaves in=a stack with `cutout portionsalong the vbinding edge, -and moulding a substantially rigidbackboneoriton1e bindly'ri'gidilied lto' provide a backbone having integral ing edge with binding portions extending into'said vcut-out, portions, -said cut-out portions being formed to prevent separation of theleaves from the backbone. 4 l

3. rI'he method of binding books which comprises gathering sheets in a stack, saidl sheets being provided with locking slots formed along the binding edge of the stack,l and moulding a Vplastic or fluent material of a type which will harden onto said binding edge and into said slots, said moulded material hardening to provide a substantially rigid I backbonev with V integral binding portions locked in said slots and preventing separation ofthe leaves therefrom. f f

4.' A method of binding books which includes punching interlocking-slot rformations alongrv one binding edge in the sheets to be bound, gathering the sheets with said slot formations aligned, placing the binding edge of the gathered sheets in a mold, and introducing into the mold a fluent moulding substance of a type that will become rigidied, said substance entering said slot formations and providing key formations interlocking with said sheets and an integral backbone shell extending along said binding edge.

5. The method of bookbinding which includes forming locking slots along the binding edge of the sheets and gathering said sheets in book form with said slots in alignment, and forming a substantially rigid backbone over said binding edge by flowing a mouldable material thereover and into said slots, said mouldable material being of a type to set or harden, and said slots being formed to prevent withdrawal of the sheets from the portions of the backbone therein when the latter hardens or sets as aforesaid.

6. The method of binding books in which the book leaves are slotted along the binding edge and the slots filled with a mouldable material rigidied to form key portions from which said leaves are inseparable, said mouldable material also being formed around said binding edge and providing a backbone integral with said key portions.

7. The method of binding books in which leaves or signatures of leaves are provided with cut-out portions along their binding edges, and a mouldable substance of a type which will set or harden into a substantially rigid mass is formed as a backbone around said binding edge, said substance being extended into said cut-out portions and the latter being shaped so that when the mass hardens the backbone and leaves are inseparable.

8. A method of binding books wherein leaves or signatures are provided with 'cut-out binding formations along their binding edges and gathered in book form with said binding edge disposed in a mold into which is injected a plastic material and which is constructed to mould said plastic material into a backbone shell around said binding edge with portions extending into said cut-out binding formations, said plastic material being of a kind adapted to set or harden into a homogeneous and substantially rigid mass, which when hardened becomes inseparable from said binding formations, whereby the leaves are secured to the backbone.

9. The method of binding books and like folio articles which comprises the formation of leaves. in book form with oppositely inclined key slots cut laterally into the binding edge thereof, and forming a mouldable material, of a type adapted to harden or rigidify, around said binding edge and into said slots said material being subsequentplastic orlike mouldable 'substance into amold portions in said keyslots and effective to prevent separation of the leaves from the backbone.

10. The methodof binding books wherein leaves or signatures are provided ini book form with inwardly flared mortises along the binding edge, and a -substantially rigid'backbone is formedon said binding edge with integral 'portions in the nature of tenons locked in said mortises, said into which the binding edge of said form is selcured, the'plastic or other mouldable substance thereafter Ibecoming hardened or rigidied. 15

Vl'1 Themethod of' binding books which comprises slotting the leaves along the binding edge and-fmoulding av substantially rigid backbone .onto said binding edg'ewit'h 'integral'portions of the moulded substance locked in said slots by virtue of becoming rigidified therein, whereby the backbone and leaves are securely bound together.

12. The method of binding books in edition style which comprises the formation ofV leaves gathered in book form between covers joined by a hinge portion disposed on the binding edge of the form, said binding edge being provided with cut-out keying formations and said hinge portion having apertures in register with said keying formations, and thereafter placing the binding edge part of the covered form into a mold and forcing into said mold a plastic or fluid moulding substance of a type adapted to harden into a homogeneous and substantially rigid mass to form a backbone shell around said binding edge and hinge portion with integral extensions of the moulding substance locked in said keying formations upon becoming hardened as aforesaid.

13. A bound book comprising a stack of leaves having key slots along its binding edge and a substantially rigid backbone moulded onto said edge with integral portions extending into said key slots and effective to prevent separation of the leaves therefrom.

14. An edition bound book comprising gathered leaves provided with inwardly flared mortises along their binding edges and a substantially rigid backbone moulded onto said binding edge with integral tenon portions locked in said mortises.

15. A book comprising a stack of leaves with a backbone of mouldable material of a type which can be solidified cast onto the binding edge thereof in a fluent state and having integral Vkey portions extending into the stack along said binding edge in a manner to prevent separation of the leaves from the backbone, said mouldable material being solidied after being cast as aforesaid to provide a substantially inexible binding for said leaves.

16. A book including leaves having mortises formed along their binding edge, and a backbone moulded onto said binding edge with integral body portions interlocked in said mortises said backbone and integral portions being substantially rigid.

17. A book including leaves having punches disposed along their binding edge and inwardly therefrom, and a substantially rigid backbone moulded onto said binding edge with integral portions extending through said punches and providing stringers on which said leaves are held inseparable from the backbone.

18. A book comprising leaves disposed between a pair of cover members joined by a hinge member overlying the binding edge of the leaves, said hinge member and binding edge being rovided with registered .cut-out -portions and the cut-out portions in said leaves being formed to Provided interlocking .engagement with keying members, `and a backbone moulded onto said binding edge over said hinge member and having integral keying portions extended into said cut-out portions and providing keying members interlocking with the leaves as aforesaid.

19. A bound folio article including gathered lea-ves disposed between a kpair .of .cover members joined .bya flexible hinge which overlies'one edge of the gathered leaves and which has openings communicating with said edge, said .edge having formed therein .cut-out portions registered with said openings in `the hinge and into which a .rigidifying mouldable substance can 'be introduced to become locked 'therein when rgidied,

.l0 portions formed in the binding edge of said leaves.

2l. A book including a stack of leaves having a ,substantially rigid backbone shell of mouldable material moulded onto the binding edge thereof, saidbackbone shell having integral portions extending into said stack on said binding ,edge and of a form `to prevent separation of the leaves from said backbone shell.

ROBERT ALONZO WILLIAMS. 

